Biomedical subjects

M Rubio

Publications and source records attributed to M Rubio.

216 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Prenatal cannabinoid exposure down- regulates glutamate transporter expressions (GLAST and EAAC1) in the rat cerebellum.

Efficient reuptake of synaptically released glutamate is essential for preventing glutamate receptor overstimulation and neuronal death. Glutamate transporters play a vital role in removing extracellular glutamate from the synaptic cleft. This study analyzed the expression of the glial (GLAST) and neuronal (EAAC1) subtypes of glutamate transporter in the cerebellum of male and female offspring exposed pre- and postnatally to Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the main component of marijuana). Pregnant rats were administered saline or THC from gestational day 5 to postnatal day 20 (PD20). The expression of glutamate transporters was examined at PD20, PD30 and PD70 (10 and 50 days after THC withdrawal) to analyze the short- and long-term effects of prenatal THC exposure. The expression of the glutamate transporter GLAST in astroglial cells and EAAC1 in Purkinje neurons decreased in THC-exposed offspring compared to controls. This reduction was observed at all ages but mainly in males. Moreover, the glial glutamate transporter level in THC-exposed rats (quantified by Western blot) was lower than in control rats. These results suggest that THC exposure during cerebellar development may alter the glutamatergic system not only during the period of drug exposure but in the postnatal stage following withdrawal. The down-regulation reported here might reflect an abnormal maturation of the glutamatergic neuron-glia circuitry.

Amino Acid Transport System X-AG↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacokinetics and penetration into tissue fluid of cefotaxime in bovines.

Concentrations of cefotaxime in serum and tissue fluid were studied in the bovine after intravenous and intramuscular administration at a dosage of 10 mg.kg-1 body weight. Steers implanted subcutaneously with tissue cages were used. After intravenous bolus administration, profiles of mean concentrations in serum over time were described by a two-compartment open model. The rate constant of elimination was 1.4 +/- 0.3 h-1 and the half-life 0.6 +/- 0.1 h. The rate constant of distribution was 11.5 +/- 1.9 h-1, and the half-life was 0.06 +/- 0.01 h. The volume of distribution at steady state was 250.6 +/- 37.3 ml.kg-1. The area under the curve was 31.8 +/- 7.4 micrograms.ml-1.h. The penetration ratio into tissue fluid was 36.5 +/- 15.4%. After intramuscular injection, the half-life was 1.1 +/- 0.3 h, the area under the curve was 27.5 +/- 6.8 micrograms.ml-1.h, and the penetration ratio into tissue fluid was 47.1 +/- 15.8%. The concentrations in tissue fluid after intravenous and intramuscular administration of cefotaxime were elevated during a 6-hour period after administration.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Is Anisakis simplex responsible for chronic urticaria?

The association of chronic urticaria (CU) to parasitic infestations has been poorly studied. Recently, sensitization to the parasite larva Anisakis simplex has been described as the cause of acute urticaria and anaphylaxis. The aim of this work was to study the relationship between sensitization to A. simplex and CU. One hundred one patients with CU were studied. Data of possible contacts with A. simplex were collected and the usual CU study was performed. Furthermore, total and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE; Pharmacia CAP system IGE fluorescence enzyme immunoassay: CAP) to A. simplex, Ascaris lumbricoides, Echinococcus granulosus, and Toxocara canis were determined as well as skin-prick test with A. simplex and serology to E. granulosus. In accordance with the results of the CAP to A. simplex, the patients were divided into two groups, positive and negative, and, subsequently, subdivided into two other subgroups that were alternatively told to stop eating fish or seafood in their diet or to continue with their normal diet. Checkups were performed at 6, 12, and 18 months. Thirty-five percent of the patients had positive skin tests to A. simplex, and CAP to A. simplex was positive in 55%. The fish-eating habits, acute or chronic gastrointestinal disease, and the background of abdominal surgery were not related to the results of the CAP and/or skin test to A. simplex. A total of 21.8% of all the patients had detectable CAP to A. lumbricoides, 91% of whom had positive CAP to A. simplex. Three patients had specific IgE to T. canis and five patients had specific IgE to E. granulosus, in the absence of positive serology. All had specific IgE to A. simplex. Present infestation could not be proved in any of them. The clinical evolution and variations of CAP to A. simplex and of total IgE were not statistically different among the groups during the 6, 12, and 18 months of the study. The percentage of sensitization to A. simplex in patients with CU is elevated and determines the sensitization to other parasites because of cross-reactivity. We have not found any causal relationship between the presence of specific IgE to A. simplex and CU. The clinical importance of this finding in this disease is still undetermined.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cost-minimisation analysis of the pharmacological treatment of epilepsy in Spain].

AIM: To use a model of economic evaluation to analyse the efficiency of therapy with the antiepileptic drugs indicated in recently diagnosed partial and generalised epilepsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The treatment of partial epilepsy and generalised epilepsy in Spain was taken as the basis to design two flexible simulation models of the decision tree type. The time horizon of the study was one year and the perspective was that of the Spanish National Health System, and indirect costs were also included. Clinical effectiveness data were obtained from a review of the literature on clinical trials. Information about resources was obtained from the opinions of a panel of experts. Unitary costs of resources were drawn from Spanish databases (euro 2003). The findings of the study were expressed in terms of average cost per patient with each therapeutic strategy, as well as the incremental cost of the different treatment strategies with respect to valproic acid. RESULTS: According to the literature that was reviewed, there are no differences in effectiveness from one antiepileptic drug to another. The incremental cost of the different therapeutic strategies, with respect to valproic acid, lies between 211 and 911 euros per patient and year in partial epilepsy, and between 1,355 and 1,297 euros per patient and year in the case of generalised epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: The use of sustained-release valproic acid in recently diagnosed partial and generalised epilepsy would allow savings to be made in resources, with respect to the other antiepileptic drugs, and can therefore be considered to be the most effective therapeutic option.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Lupus anticoagulant and recurrent transient ischemic attacks].

Lupus anticoagulant (LA) is an immunoglobulin that has been found in association with many diseases and shows an in vitro anticoagulant activity but is clinically associated with thrombosis. We report a patient with a diagnosis of autoimmune disease who developed recurrent transient ischemic attacks; after through investigation of other possible conditions and pathogenetical mechanisms, LA was the only causative factor that was found. We feel that LA should be systematically investigated in cerebrovascular disease, particularly in young patients without other known risk factors, to determine its true incidence and the correct therapeutic approach.

Blood Coagulation Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied